Eight people have been confirmed dead in the tragic accident which happened along the Mbarara-Lyantonde-Masaka highway.
The accident occured in the Tuesday morning, at Kalegeero junction in Lyantonde district, involving a Bus belonging to Kasaba bus company, registration number UAL 492H, which was heading for Kampala from Rukungiri district.
The bus which was reportedly traveling at very high speed veered off the road at Kalegeero junction (about 60 kilometres from Mbarara) in Lyantonde district, as it dodged a truck that was moving in the opposite direction.
Twaha Kasirye, the Greater Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson, says eight occupants of the bus died instantly while others were rescued with injuries and transferred to various hospitals including Lyantonde general hospital and Mbarara regional referral hospitalHe says that at least fourteen people have been rushed for treatment.
Identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained but three were women. Kasirye says preliminary reports suggest that the accident resulted from the over speeding bus driver who lost control as he struggled to avoid head on collision with the box body truck.
“We have asked the bus company to provide details of the passengers who were on board, which will help us identify the dead and victims especially those that are unconscious,” he says.
Rescuers backed by Police collected some bodies from around the wreckage of the vehicles while some were trapped inside or underneath their bus which fell off its tyres. URN